Pagel of 3
<br />WSW Issue #1688
<br />September 22, 2006
<br />CONGRESSIONAL UPDATEIWATER
<br />RESOURCES
<br />Dam Safety /Corps of Engineers /FEMA
<br />The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on September 20, reported by voice vote the
<br />National Dam Safety Program Act of 2006 (H.R. 4981). The bill was introduced on March 16, by Rep. John
<br />"Randy" Kuhl (R -NY), and cosponsored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D -HI) and Rep. Jim Matheson (D -UT). It
<br />requires, rather than authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to
<br />update and maintain an inventory of dams, including an assessment of each dam based on either federal or state
<br />safety inspections.
<br />It also requires that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) prepare a strategic plan for dam
<br />safety and establish performance measures, goals, priorities and target completion dates. To be eligible for
<br />federal assistance, according to the Congressional Research Service, a state dam safety program would have to
<br />have: (1) authority to require or perform inspections at least every five years for those dams and reservoirs that
<br />pose a significant threat to human life and property; (2) a procedure for more detailed and frequent safety
<br />inspections; and (3) authority to issue notices to require owners of dams to install and monitor safety
<br />instrumentation. The bill also reauthorizes appropriations for the National Dam Safety Program, the National Dam
<br />Inventory, and research, training and staff. A hearing was held on July 27.
<br />The Committee also reported H.R. 1105, introduced by Rep. Sue Kelly (R -NY), to amend the National Dam
<br />Safety Program Act to provide grants to states for use in rehabilitating publicly -owned dams that fail to meet
<br />minimum safety standards and pose an unacceptable risk to the public. The bill authorizes $350M over four
<br />years, with $50M for FY2007 and $100M for FY2008 through FY2010.
<br />On the Senate side, companion legislation (S.2735), introduced by Christopher Bond (R -MO) and Daniel
<br />Akaka (D -HI) last May, an action is pending on the Senate floor (Legislative Calendar No. 511). In his introductory
<br />remarks, Rep. Bond said, "The goal of this program, administered by FEMA, has been to advance dam safety in
<br />the U.S. and prevent loss of life and property damage from dam failures at both the Federal and State
<br />programmatic levels.... The National Dam Safety Program Act provides much needed assistance to State dam
<br />safety programs, which are responsible for regulating 95 percent of the 80,000 dams in the U.S. The States
<br />receive training assistance for their dam safety engineers and State grant assistance based on the number of
<br />dams in the State. The National Dam Safety Program, currently administered by FEMA... expires on Sept. 30, and
<br />needs to be reauthorized."
<br />Senator Akaka added, "There are approximately 79,000 dams registered in the National Inventory of Dams.
<br />However, there are many more dams that are small and unregulated. This bill provides funding for State dam
<br />safety programs to enhance their oversight and support abilities.... The National Dam Safety Program delivers
<br />vital Federal resources to State governments to improve their dam safety programs by providing funds for
<br />training, technical assistance, research, and support. Federal incentive grants are awarded to States to enhance
<br />their dam safety programs. In addition, funds have been used to hire staff for inspections, pay for specialized
<br />training, and develop specialized mapping in the event that a dam failure necessitates evacuation." He explained,
<br />"approximately $12 million [is] authorized for each fiscal year, $8 million is divided among the States to improve
<br />safety programs and $2 million is allocated for research to identify more effective techniques to assess, construct,
<br />and monitor dams. In addition, $700,000 is available for training assistance for State engineers, and $1 million is
<br />used for the National Inventory of Dams."
<br />He concluded, "The costs of failing to maintain dams properly are extremely high. There have been at least 29
<br />dam failures in the United States during the past 2 years causing more than $200 million in property damages...
<br />http:/ /vvww.westgov.org/wswc /1688.htm1 10/24/2006
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